October 18, 2026 - 4:53 pm

Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said it after the disaster that was 45-17 to the Patriots last week. To paraphrase: Everyone would find out what his team was really made of.

Who they really are.

And we did.

Despite those same Raiders falling to Buffalo 33-30 on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

The Raiders bounced back in a way that said it’s not their intention of following one stinker with another, that things aren’t like last year’s 3-14 debacle. That it’s different.

It’s about the process. It’s about competing week in and week out, even if the final margin doesn’t fall in your favor. That’s where the Raiders are right now, and it’s expected to be that way for this season.

That’s what it has always been about with this particular team in this particular moment.

It was Buffalo West here at Allegiant and that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Blue blanketed the crowd as one of the league’s best fan bases showed out for their beloved Bills.

It got to the point where there were loud “M-V-P!” chants aimed at Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen after he improvised out of the pocket and tossed a shovel pass to Keon Coleman for a 9-yard score and 10-point Bills lead with under seven minutes left in the third quarter.

But the Raiders wouldn’t die. Kirk Cousins orchestrated consecutive scoring drives to tie things at 23 with 8:07 remaining.

Then it was Buffalo’s turn, which marched 66 yards in seven plays and took the lead for good.

It became apparent from the start that the Raiders wanted to get running back Ashton Jeanty, bum foot or not, involved. He had six touches on the team’s first drive, culminating with a 1-yard plunge from Jeanty for a touchdown.

But it was hit-and-miss (and more miss) from there for the second-year back, who would rush for just 22 yards on 10 carries. Another week, another less-than-impressive showing from the Raiders’ run game. That part is definitely holding this team back.

And yet it showed a little something Sunday against a Super Bowl-caliber opponent. That it can bounce back in a manner that can create growth.

For now, following a third straight defeat, that’s the most you can hope for.

Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.